Dyslexia didn't stop pilot from achieving dreams

KUALA LUMPUR: Who would have thought that the man who dared to travel solo around the world in a single-engine Cessna 210 Silver Eagle aircraft at the age of 21, was once a victim of bullying.

Captain James Anthony Tan, 26, who was enrolled at a national-type Chinese primary school, recalled that he was scolded and caned by his teachers because of his poor performance. He was also made fun of by classmates.

He said he had difficulty following the learning process in the classroom, and could not read or write until he was about 9 years old.

“This caused me to have low self-confidence, and soon I became naughtier and more defiant.

“However, I always knew that the way my mind worked was different from other kids,” he said.